Rich Hill Makes First Rehab Appearance in Rancho
It was a bright day when Rich Hill threw a perfect curveball that bent gracefully over the plate and reached the mitt of catcher Will Smith. The home plate umpire, Tom West does not look convinced and declared the pitch a ball. This was an incredulou
All this was a more than a great game for Hill; it was much beyond being a walk or another feather on his Single-A earned-run average (54.00) hat. The ball four was something incredible, it was a sign that the first rehabilitation start for Hill was over.
Hill faced six batters that were almost 22.5 years old on an average. While two scored a single the other two struck out, then it was a double by a batter and finally, it was Connor Justus, who just walked. “But what seemed like a setback Thursday was not,” said Hill gladly.
“My finger held up well,” Hill said. “Obviously disappointing in the fact that it was only two-thirds of an inning, but getting work in and everything like that was a success from a finger standpoint.” He added gracefully.
Hill was a part of Rancho Cucamonga. As per the schedule, he was to throw 4 innings and total of 60 pitches. Rancho Cucamonga were the Dodgers an affiliate to California League. He threw 31 pitches more to reach the desired limit in the bullpen.
Hill did not have a good time earlier the season. He had to face disability to play the game in the first season, because of a blister on his hand. Indeed this was a valuable three-year contract for Hill worth $48 million; he wanted to perform the best. Hill said later, every time the blister on the middle finger caused me a problem, I knew this would happen, but Thursday was different.
Rust also caused his problem. He faces six batters out of which he fell behind four. The curveballs fail to go close to the strike zone but ball four was different. The fourth ball was to Justus. Hill has much to offer and to show after all he was a pitcher who had a tough first month and in need of encouragement.
“From the standpoint of the way the ball was coming out of my hand after 15 days or so of getting out there and getting back into competition, it felt great,” Hill said. “I would like to push it and keep going but I understand the medical side of it, where less is more because you want to get to the next day and see how it represents itself.”
With each throw, Hill builds the callous on his middle finger which was never there in April. Hill had hard practice sessions for the same including throwing in the bullpen, throwing simulated games, now rehabbing in a competitive setting.
He says that before he joins the Dodgers back, he needs another rehab Malibu. However, he needs to decide when and which Alo Recovery house he will choose.
